HC Deb 17 May 1976 vol 911 cc956-7
46. Mr. Hooley

asked the Attorney-General what criteria or guidelines are used by the Director of Public Prosecutions in order to determine whether or not to proceed to prosecute a policeman against whom a criminal offence has been alleged.

The Attorney-General

The Director of Public Prosecutions makes no distinction between a police officer and any other person in deciding whether or not a prosecution should be brought. In every case, the broad criteria are whether the evidence is sufficient to justify a prosecution and whether proceedings are required in the public interest.

Mr. Hooley

Is it not the case that the Director of Public Prosecutions requires much more rigorous and comprehensive evidence of an offence before he is prepared to undertake any kind of prosecution against a policeman against whom a crime has been alleged? Is he not falling into disesteem? Does not some investigation need to be carried out?

The Attorney-General

With regard to the first question, I am certainly not aware of the point my hon. Friend has made. It is not in accordance with my own experience of the matters which come to me either from the Director or from any other source with which the Director of Public Prosecutions is involved. As to the second question, I do not share my hon. Friend's view.

Mr. Percival

May I assure the Attorney-General, in regard to the last part of his answer, that this is also our experience on this side of the House? We have no reason to believe that the office of the DPP is falling in esteem at all. [Interruption.] Hon. Gentlemen may laugh—[Interruption.] —

Mr. Speaker

Order. Hon. Members will have to laugh after Question Time, because we are running out of time.

Mr. Percival

The Attorney-General can be assured that we welcome his statement that all cases are judged by the same standards, whoever is involved in in them. This policy is obviously doubly important in the light of what we have seen this afternoon, when hon. Gentlemen have tried to pursue individual cases because of the particular persons involved.

The Attorney-General

I can only agree with the point made by the hon. and learned Gentleman.